About 96 percent of adults believe an attractive smile makes you more attractive to the opposite sex, and about 74 percent believe that an unattractive smile can harm your ability to be successful in your career. Thus, teeth whitening has become one of the most popular reasons to visit a cosmetic dentist.

Whitening applications can be performed at the office or at home. However, professional teeth whitening applications tend to last the longest and produce the most noticeable results. Yet, regardless of how you whiten your teeth, the results are not permanent. Your cosmetic dentist may recommend at-home treatments, such as a special toothpaste or whitening rinse, to maintain the newfound brilliance of your teeth. Still, there are natural products you can use at home to help your teeth remain their whitest after a whitening application. Here are a few:

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is touted for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. However, the oil is also a favorite among people who oil pull to keep their teeth white. Coconut helps remove surface stains on your teeth by acting like a detergent in your mouth.

During oil pulling, the swishing of the oil through your teeth causes it to "saponify" or take on soap-like properties. Thus, as you oil pull with coconut oil, not only is the oil absorbing and killing the microbes in your mouth, it is gently "washing" your teeth to help them stay clean and white. In addition, some stains on your teeth may dissolve in the presence of oil in the same manner that makeup is more easily removed with an oil-based solution than a water-based product.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is an old folk remedy for whiter teeth. The alkaline compound is mildly abrasive. Thus, when you brush with a paste of baking soda and water, you are "scrubbing" the enamel of your teeth. Surface stains may be kept at bay by this practice. However, deeper stains will probably not be affected. In addition, use caution so that you don't brush too hard or too frequently with baking soda. Over time, the abrasiveness could damage your tooth enamel.

After you have your teeth whitened, you will likely want to maintain their new brilliance as long as possible. As time passes, stains from food or drink can discolor your teeth again. Using natural products can help discourage some staining. However, it is still best to follow the maintenance instructions of your cosmetic dentist. If you have further questions about maintaining the color of your teeth after a tooth whitening application, contacta cosmetic dentist like NorthShore Family Dentistry today.